Key facts
- Georgia Republicans are beginning a special legislative session to redraw voting districts.
- The session is a response to the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais decision, which impacted racial gerrymandering.
- The redistricting is intended for the 2028 elections, not the upcoming midterms.
- Proposed maps have not been released, leading to criticism from Democrats and activists.
- The Supreme Court ruled that redistricting must be 'race neutral', impacting districts previously designed to ensure minority representation.
Georgia Republicans have convened a special legislative session to redraw voting districts, a process that could potentially reduce the political influence of Black and other nonwhite voters. This move follows the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which invalidated a congressional map for being an illegal racial gerrymander and stated that districts should be 'race neutral'.
Outgoing Governor Brian Kemp called the session, but unlike other governors who acted quickly to redraw maps for upcoming elections, Kemp wants Georgia lawmakers to focus on districts for the 2028 elections. This makes Georgia the first state to apply the Callais ruling to its legislature, highlighting the decision's broad impact in Southern states with significant Black populations.
As of Tuesday, neither Governor Kemp nor Republican legislative leaders had presented proposed map changes, leading to frustration among Democrats and activists who plan protests. State Representative Tanya Miller, a Black legislator, criticized the lack of transparency, stating that such fundamental decisions should not be made in secret. House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones also indicated she was unaware of who was drawing the new districts, emphasizing it as a legislative prerogative.
The Supreme Court's ruling, based on the equal protection clause, concluded that race-conscious districting violates the Constitution. While the court cited no partisan interests, critics argue that in Southern states, race and party loyalty are closely intertwined, allowing Republicans to redraw maps in ways that benefit their party by redistributing nonwhite voters who tend to support Democrats. Professor Carol Anderson of Emory University compared this to Jim Crow-era tactics, using seemingly neutral language for racially targeted policies.
There are potential risks for Republicans in this redistricting effort. While the state Senate is considered gerrymandered for Republicans, redrawing state House and U.S. House maps could create more competitive districts, especially around metro Atlanta, if nonwhite, Democratic-leaning voters are spread across more seats. This could inadvertently give Democratic candidates more opportunities to win.